You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 715

“Ms. Martin, do you think murder isn’t a crime?”

“Or maybe you think it was perfectly fine when your parents killed Patricia’s parents. Since you’re the one who benefits from it all, maybe you ought to keep your head down instead of strutting around like you own the place. How do you know you won’t be next?”

Ruby didn’t back down. “Oh, so you’re just going to accuse me out of nowhere, Mr. Lantz?”

Brandon actually smiled at that. “I don’t accuse anyone for no reason. I let the law do its job, make sure the guilty pay for what they’ve done. They end up stuck on the pillar of shame, with no way out. That’s how it works.”

Just around the corner in the stairwell, Patricia was standing quietly, listening. Her hand at her side moved just a little. Jackson was leaning against the wall next to her, arms folded, a lollipop hanging from his lips. Together, they heard every word of what Brandon said.

They’d just come to find Brandon and ask about Ruby, but ended up walking right into this mess.

Jackson glanced over at Patricia.

There was a loud bang.

Brandon had slammed his door shut.

Patricia turned and started heading downstairs.

“I checked. Brandon actually makes pretty good money. His benefits alone could cover a mortgage, easy. So why’s he living in a place like this?” Jackson asked, leaning on the steering wheel as he looked out at the old buildings around them. It was clear the neighborhood had seen better days.

“Maybe it’s close to his work.”

“The closer you live, the more you get worked to the bone.”

“I think life’s pretty good the way it is.”

“What’s so good about it? Wouldn’t a luxury place be even better?”

Jackson just stared at her. “So you’re tired of being Miss and want to be a saint now?”

Patricia made a little sound of agreement. “Just think of it as me having money to burn. It’s Oliver’s money anyway.”

Jackson grinned. “In that case, buy me a place. Heck, buy a few. If it’s Mr. Padilla’s money, it might as well get spent. If you don’t use it, someone else will.”

Patricia laughed. She spotted Ruby coming out of the building, looking totally lost, and handed a food container to Jackson. “Go on, take this up to him.”